Liquid volume gauge



Feb. 27, 1940- c. ,KNOBLOCH LIQUID VOLUME GAUGE Filed April 5, ,1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 eb, 27, 1940. N B H 2,191,533

LIQUID VOLUME GAUGE Filed April 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cczr finobloofa, 42 Law r m,

fiwerif Patented Feb. 27, 1940.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUIDVOLUMEIGAUGE 7 Carl Knobloch, Warren, Ollie Application April 5, 1937, Serial No. 134,980

" 80laims. (c1. 73- 299) This invention relates to that type of gauges which are designed for use .in. association with liquid containers, such, for examples, as gasoline, oil, and water tanks, toindicate the volumeof liquid in the tank at all times. 'Such gauges are especially useful in bulk storage-and filling stations to disclose the condition of storage tanks.

Numerous patents have heretofore been granted to me and to others on liquid volume gauges for these and similar purposes based on the principle of a'diaphragm mounted on or in a tank containing theliquid and subjectedon one side to the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in' the tank and on its opposite side to a uniform preslf sure, such as thatof the atmosphere, 'a visual indicator, and a mechanical connection between the diaphragm and the indicator. These are generally known as diaphragm gauges; and,

while their indications are in the main reliable and satisfactory, yet, owing to an unavoidable degree of inherent stifiness in the diaphragms, the large size required to get sufl'icient movement, and for. other causes, they are not. as sensitive and do not afford as perfect accuracy as is desirable. Furthermore, the manufacture of the diaphragms is a very delicate, and expensive more sensitive, accurate and reliablethangauges of the diaphragm type. I 1,

My present invention relates to .the same generaltype of Bourdon tube gauge as the inven- 4 tion of my former patent above identified, but

simplify the structure, lessen the cost of manufacture, decrease friction, and increase the sensitiveness and accuracy; these improvements con-v 50 sisting-of reversing the end connections off the Bourdon tube, the elimination of the rotor l9 and the hollow stationary arbor H and its cap [8 of said patent, and the substitution of asolid rotatable arbor to which the inner closed end -55 of the Bourdon tubeis directly attached, the

tests that'a gauge of the .Bourdon tube type is I embodies certain improvements thereon which inner ends of screws ably of the flat typeshown. ,the tube H3 is mounted'in a block 20 that in mounting of said solidv arbor on anti-friction bearings at both ends thereof, the provision of a movement multiplying drive from said'arbor to the indicator,: and an improved mounting for the actuator and indicator by which both may 5 be supported by and from the-drainpipe of the tank; the attainmentofsuch improvements constituting the mainobject of this invention.

One practical and-workable. embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accoml0 panying drawings, although-it is to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement thereinshown may be widely varied with- 1 out involving anydeparture from the operative principle 'or sacrificing any of the advantages secured thereby.

"In the drawingsi Fig. l is a side elevation of the gauge shown applied to a liquid tank, the latterbeing shown fragmentarily and broken out between its top 20 and bottom. I I Fig. 2'is a front or face elevation of the same. 'Fig. 3 is a vertical axial s'ection'through the indicator.

Fig.4 is a detailview of a portion of the in- 25 dicator, in section 'on the line 4.-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical axial section throughthe indicator actuator that is directly subjected to the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the tank,

taken on the'line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

i Fig. 6 is avertical transverse section'of the same taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5,

In the drawings, A designates as an entirety a liquid container, such as a gasoline'or oil tank,

3 designates as an entirety an indicator, herein shown as of the dial type, and C designates as or the liquid in thecontainer A.

First describing the indicator actuator C, 40 shown in detail .in Figs. 5 and 6, Ml designates the "body member of a casing, the open side 'of W1'1.lCh

may be closed by a lid or cover I I attached thereto by suitable machine screws l2. Rotatably mounted within this casingon and between a 5 pair of point bearings 13 and M formed on the l5 and I6 respectively mounted in the body I D and cover ll of the was 'ing, is an arbor ll. To the arbor l1 isattached,

as by a screw 18 ,(Figs. 5 and 6), the inner 5o plugged end of-a spiral Bourdon' tube 19 prefer- The outer end of turn is secured to the inner side of theperipheral wall of the casing body member ID, and com- 5 municates through a slot I9v in the outer wall of the tube, a passage 20 in the bottom of block 20, and a coupling 2| screwed into the peripheral wall of the casing body beneath block 20, with a tube 22 that, as shown in Fig. 1, is connected into a petcock 23 that, in turn, is screwed into an end wall of the tank A slightly above the bottom of the latter. Connected into the bottom of the tank is a drain pipe 24 equipped with a shut ofi valve 25, which is occasionally opened to draw offsediment that settles in the bottomof the tank.

The body ll] of the casing is formed on its upper end with a threaded hollow boss 26, to

which is suitably connected a tubeZl (Figs. 1 and 2) that, in turn, is connected into the lower end of a dial casing 28, forming the body member of the indicator B. This dial indicator may be of ordinary construction, including a dial plate 29 calibrated in gallons or other indicia, an arbor 30, a pointer 3i overlying the dial plate 29, a cr'ystal'32, and a clamping ring 33. In the arrangement shown the members Band C, and the tube2l are supported from the pipe 24 by a bracket 34 formed on its ends with sleeves 34 that embrace pipe 24 and tube 2'! and are locked thereto by set screws 34". However, the indicator B and actuator C may be independently supported within the purview of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 5, fixed to the arbor ll of the-indicator actuator as by a set screw is a grooved pulley 35, to which is attached a cord 36 thatextends upwardly through the tube 2! and at its upper end is attached to a grooved pulley 31 (Fig. 3) fast on the arbor 38 of the indicator. The driven pulley 37 is preferably considerably smaller in diameter than the driving pulley 35, so that the rotary movement of the arbor His multiplied intransmission tothe arbor 3B of theindicator pointer. Also attached tothe pulley 31 and depending from the opposite "side vthereof from the cord is a cord 38 supporting a weight 39. The p-u-lley 35 is of much larger diameter relatively to the diameter of the Bourdon tube coil l9 than the'corresponding pulley 32 of my aforesaid patent, being, as shown, approximately two-thirds the diameter of the coil, so that the shorter arcuate movements of the inner end of the coil 19 transmit substantially the same swing to the indicator pointer 3i as do the-longer arcuate movementsof the outer end of the coil H in the deviceof my aforesaid patent. The operation of the gauge is probably obvious from. the foregoing description of its structure but may be briefly described as follows.

When the tank A is filled with liquid, the latter flows-down through the pipe 22 into and filling the Bourdon tube l9, which latter, as above stated, is plugged or closed at its'inner end that m attached to the arbori'l. The hydrostatic pressure tends to unwind or straighten the Bour-' don tube, under the-well understood principle of the latter, and this imparts a limited turning 'movement to the arbor H, which, in the arrangementshown in Fig. 6, is ina clockwise direction. This movement is transmitted through the pulley 35, cord 36, pulley 37 and'arbor 36 to the pointer 3|, moving the latter to a point on the scale showing the number of gallons in the tank A. As the liquid in the tank is drawn off, the hydrostatic pressure ofcourse decreases, and the Bourdon tube, tending to resume its normal position-turns the shaft ll backwardly or in a counter-clockwise direction viewing Fig. '6, and the weight 39 acting through its cord 38 on the "Patent No. 2,042,471.

when the pressure is relieved or reduced, it tends to return to normal position.

The Bourdon tube is very sensitive to slight variations in internal pressure, being, in fact,

much more sensitive than the bellows diaphragms heretofore quite generally used in gauges of this a type, and hence affords more accurate and reliable scale readings. The point bearings l3 and M of the arbor I! also contribute very materially. to the sensitiveness and accuracy of the gauge.

This improved gauge has the advantage that it automatically takes care of; variations in the height of gasoline in the tank due to expansion thescale having been calibrated empirically by test with the liquid at say 60 F. Variations in the volume caused by expansion when the temperature rises above that point, or contraction when the temperature falls below that point, do not affect thehydrostatic pressure existing in the Bourdon tube, because an increase in the volume of the liquid due to arising temperature is accompanied by a decrease in specific gravity, and

vice versa, so that the hydrostatic pressure in the tube remainsv constant and consequently the dial,

needle remains stationary under temperature changes.

Hence, the reading obtainedby the indicator is indicative of the volumeof fluid at 60 F. andr not the actual volume'within thetank unless the temperature happens tube at 60 F. l I

With the tank partially, filled with gasoline, vapors are constantly being generated, which, accumulating in the closed top of the tank, create some pressure on the surface of the liquid, which is in addition to the hydrostatic pressure; -and to prevent aslightly inaccurate reading. of the indicator due to this cause, I connect the top of the tank with the interior of the actuator casing by an open pipe connection 40 (Figs. 1 and 5) which equalizes the gas pressureat all times existing in the tank and'in the casing of, the

actuator which contains the Bourdon tube, so

that the differential internal pressures on thet outer and inner sides of the Bourdon tubes remain constant; any slight changes of internal pressure due to variations in vapor pressure on the liquid in the tank being neutralized by cor-' respondingly increased or decreased external gasp.

pressures acting on the outer surfaces of the tube. This last described feature, however, forms in part the subject matter. ofmy aforesaid patent above identified, and no claim of novelty thereto is made herein.

If desired, a plurality of Bourdon tubes may be used after the manner shownin my former 1. In a liquid volume gauge of the type de--. scribed responsive to and operated by the hydrostatic head of a'body of liquid, the combination "of. a rotatable arbor, anti-friction bearings for the ends of saidarbor, a spiralBourdon tube formed with an inner closed end directly fastened;

25 and contraction under variations in temperature,

to said-arbor, means for fixedly supporting the outer end of said Bourdon tube, a pipe com.- municating with the outer end of said Bourdon tube, said pipe leading from a tank containing said body of liquid and said tank located at such a height as to produce a gravity flow of liquid through said pipe into said Bourbon tube, a liquid volume indicator, and means for transmitting rotary movement of .said arbor tosaid indicator.

2. In a liquid volume gauge of the type described responsive to and operated by the hydrostatic head of a body of liquid, the combination of a rotatable arbor mounted at its ends on axially alined point bearings, a spiral Bourdon tube formed with an inner closed end directly fastened to said arbor, means for fixedly supporting the outer end of said Bourdon tube, a pipe communicating with the outer end of said Bourdon tube, said pipe leading from the lower portion of a tank containing said body of liquid and said tank located at such a height as to produce a gravity flow of liquid through said pipe into said Bourdon tube, a liquid volume indicator, and means for transmitting rotary movement of said arbor to said indicator.

3. In a liquid volume gauge of the type described, the combination of a fixed casing having a peripheral wall, a rotatable arbor mounted in and co-axial with said casing, a spiral Bourdon tube encircling said arbor and formed with an inner closed end directly attached to the periphcry of said arbor and with an outer closed end attached to said peripheral wall, a pipe communicating through the peripheral wall of said casing with the outer end of said Bourdon tube, said pipe leading from, the lower portion of an elevated tank containing a body of liquid, a liquid volume indicator having a pointer shaft, and movement multiplying operating connections between said arbor and said shaft. I

4. In a liquid volume gauge of the type described, the combination of a fixed casing, op-

' posedpointed bearing members mounted in opposite walls of said casing, an arbor lying between and at its ends journaled on said bearing members, a spiral Bourdon tube encircling said arbor and formed with an inner closed end directly attached thereto and with an outer closed end attached to said casing, a pipe'communicating through a wall of said casing with the outer end of said Bourdon tube, said pipe leading from an elevated tank containing a body of liquid, a liquid volume indicator, and operating connections between said arbor and said indicator.

5. In a liquid volume gauge of the type described, the combination of a fixed casing, opposed pointed bearing members adjustably mounted in opposite walls of said casing, an arbor lying between and at its ends journaled on said bearing members, a pulley fast on said arbor, a

spiral Bourdon tube encircling said arbor and of said Bourdon tube, said pipe leading from an elevated tank containing a body of liquid, a liquid volume indicator, and a cord operating connection between said pulley and said indicator.

bor, a tubular member mounted on said casing,

a spiral Bourdon tube encircling said arbor and formed with an inner closed end directly attached thereto and with an outer closed end attached to said casing, a pipe leading from the opposed adjustable bearing, members lower portion of said tank to said casing and communicating with the outer end of said Bourdon tube, a liquid volume indicator mounted on said tubular member, and a cord-operating connection extending from said pulley through sai tubular member to said indicator.

'7'. The combination with a tank, and a drain pipe depending from the bottomlof said tank, of means for indicating the volume of a liquid in said tank, comprising a fixed casing and means for supporting the same from said drain pipe in a position below said tank, opposed adjustable anti-friction bearing members mounted in opposite walls of said casing, an arbor lying between and at its ends. journaled on said bearing members, a pulley fast on said arbor, an upright tubular member mounted on said casing, the axis of said tubular member being substantially tangential to said pulley, a spiral Bourdon tube encircling said arbor and formed with an inner closed end directly attached to the periphery of said arbor and with an outer closed end attached to said casing, a pipe leading from the lower portion of said tank and communicating through a wall of said casing with the outer end of said Bourdon tube, a liquid volume indicator mounted on the upper end of said tubular member, and a cord operating connection extending from said pulley through said tubular member to said indicator. v

8. The combination with a tank, and a drain pipe depending from the bottom. of said tank, of means for indicating the volume of a liquid in said tank, comprising a bracket attached to and extending laterally of said drain pipe, an upright tubular member attached to and supported by said bracket, a casing attached to and depending from the lower end of said tubular member and having a peripheral wall, a liquid volume indicator mounted on the upper end of said tubular member, opposed adjustable anti-friction bearing members mounted in opposite walls of said casing, an arbor lying between and at its ends journaled on said bearing members, a pulley fast on said arbor and. of a diameter'such that the axis of said tubular member issubstantially tangential thereto, a spiral Bourdon tube encircling said arbor and formed with an inner closed end directly attached to the periphery of said arbor and with an outer closed end attached to the peripheral wall of said casing, apipeleading fromJ the lower portion of said tank and communicating through said peripheral wall with the outer end of said Bourdon tube, and a cord operating connection-extending from said pulley through said tubular member to said indicator.

CARL KNOBLOCI-I. 

